Help Needed!

Dear Friends - - - Fulton Commissioner Rob Pitts has introduced a proposed ordinance to ban the use in Fulton County of guides (bull hooks) in handling elephants. He did so at the request of PETA and the Humane Society, as best I can determine. This would effectively prevent circuses with elephants from appearing in Atlanta. Below you see a message from Russ Belin, Feld/RBBB's local Vice President about this matter. As is often the case with such, the proponents of the measure wanted to hurry it to a vote. I did not even hear about it until Monday (18th). It came before the Commission yesterday (20th). The vote was three "yea" and three "no" with Chairman John Eaves abstaining. So with the tie, it is set to come up again on Wednesday Nov. 3rd. Those in favor were Pitts, Emma Darnell (west Atlanta), and Bill Edwards (south Fulton County). Those against were Lynne Riley (Johns Creek, Milton, et al), Nancy Boxill (Central and east Atlanta), and Tom Lowe(Buckhead, Sandy Springs). For the e-mail addresses and bios on the seven commissioners, see - - - http://www.fultoncountyga.gov/commissioners Russ Belin urges those who wish to continue seeing elephants with circuses in Fulton County e-mail a letter to each commissioner. He offers this language (below) as a general format which can be tailored as one wishes. The ban could prevent RBBB from ever playing again at Philips Arena. It could also prevent UniverSoul from showing at Turner Field if their performance has elephants which it regularly does. Early Wednesday morning, just ahead of the commission meeting, my Troutman Sanders law partner Chuck Palmer was engaged by Feld/RBBB to represent the show's interests. Chuck was at the commission meeting and said the proponents drug out those old video tapes purporting to show abuse with bull hooks. This has been a favorite PETA ploy for years. So, act now and get out those e-mails. Ray - - I'd ask you to get in touch with the CFAers here whose e-mail addresses you have. Rich - - You know Pitts so you could tell him how your kids and those of your neighbors in Haynes Manor will be deprived of seeing these great and majestic animals up close and appreciating them in their traditional ex-situ milieu, the circus. I believe Pitts counts on votes from Haynes Manor. For residents of Fulton County be sure to make that point. Richard _______________ Here is Russ' suggested letter - - - Dear Commissioner___________: I am contacting you to express my strong opposition to a resolution to amend Article VI of Chapter 34 of the Fulton County Code of Ordinances, a bill to prohibit approved elephant management tools in circuses which means a ban on circuses traveling to Atlanta. If this bill passes, our community will lose vital economic dollars, along with the choice to see exotic animals as part of the iconic family entertainment experience Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® brings to Atlanta. Ringling Bros. performs to the delight of thousands of Atlantans every year, contributing more than $ 1 million dollars annually to the local economy. On a much more personal level, these performances mean tens of thousands of hours of employment for arena employees annually. Employees of restaurants and other local businesses would also suffer lost employment opportunities if Ringling Bros. were prevented from returning to Atlanta. I know that I can rely on Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® to provide superior family entertainment and that elephants and other animals are an integral part of the Ringling Bros. experience. It is profoundly evident that the proper care and treatment of the animals is a priority to the entire organization. I strongly urge you to oppose this legislation and would be happy to talk to you further should you have any questions about the consequences of this troubling legislation. Sincerely, NOTE - - - I'd drop the italicized reference to the show title and the copyright mark (Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®.) Russ has to use that when he writes (and so would others when writing formally, particularly for commercial purposes), but it will be a dead giveaway that it is prepared by the Feld organization. Please see below. We need to try and send this to friends in the area that support Ringling Bros. We are asking them to use the attached letter, add their name and email letter to the email addresses below for the District contacts. Goal would be to have as many people as possible email in next couple of days add their support for Ringling Bros. Fulton county residents – first option But they can hear from anyone. Let me know if you have questions Below line can be cut/paste and forwarded. --------- I am hoping you will help us address a serious issue. A proposed ordinance, sponsored by Commissioner Robb Pitts is pending in the Fulton County Commission that would restrict the use of guides (“bull hooks”) with elephants and thus would effectively prevent Ringling Bros.’ elephants and our circus from returning to Atlanta. This is a humane, safe and proven husbandry tool that is accepted by the United States Department of Agriculture, which oversees federal animal welfare laws. It is also approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the International Elephant Foundation and the Elephant Managers Association. It is used in circuses and many zoos throughout the world to manage elephants in a responsible manner and it is absolutely essential to both human and animal safety in a performance setting. Any tool can be misused and misuse should not be tolerated but to ban this tool would effectively ban elephants and by extension the rest of our circus from returning to Atlanta. You have had the opportunity to hear first hand from many of the people who work with and care for our elephants and hope you agree that preventing them from returning to Atlanta is not justified and would be detrimental in many ways. I am asking that you consider contacting the county commission in opposition to this proposal by sending a letter or email to the commissioners before Wednesday. I have taken the liberty of attaching a draft of a basic letter for your convenience but please say whatever you are comfortable with. See below for contact information for all the commissioners. Thank you, Robb Pitts District 2 (At Large) robb.pitts@fultoncountyga.gov 404-612-8210 John H. Eaves, Ph.D. District 1 (At Large) Chairman john.eaves@fultoncountyga.gov 404-612-8206 Lynne Riley District 3 lynne.riley@fultoncountyga.gov 404-612-8213 Tom Lowe District 4 tom.lowe@fultoncountyga.gov 404-612-8218 Emma I. Darnell District 5 Emma.Darnell@fultoncountyga.gov 404-612-8222 Nancy A. Boxill District 6 district6@fultoncountyga.gov 404-612-8226